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Cyber attack: Lockbit wants 70 million US dollars from chip manufacturer TSMC3. July 2023
Cyber attack: Lockbit wants 70 million US dollars from chip manufacturer TSMC
Lockbit’s cyber extortionists are not there yet. They gave Taiwanese chip manufacturing giant TSMC 37 days to pay the $70 million ransom demand. If you don’t pay, the cyber gangs would publish “entry points into the network, as well as passwords and log-ins for the company.”
Lockbit’s cyber blackmailers gave the Taiwanese contract chip manufacturer TSMC just under 37 days to respond to a ransom demand of 70 million US dollars. In the event of a refusal to pay, the cyber gangsters threaten. This reports heise-online.
As for the background, TSMC explained that the company was recently made aware of a cyber security incident at one of its IT hardware suppliers. Information about the initial setup and configuration of a server was leaked. “At TSMC, every hardware component undergoes a series of extensive tests and adjustments, including security configurations, before being built into TSMC’s system,” the company added.


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DeWine approves food trucks for rest stops
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Transportation is temporarily opening the state’s 86 rest areas to food trucks, Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Friday.
DeWine said this would allow for options for truck drivers and essential workers to get a hot meal during the COVID-19 closures.
“Truck drivers are the lifeblood of the economy and their jobs have never been more critical than now,” he said. “I’ve heard from many in the trucking industry that finding a place to eat while they’re on the road has been tough, but we’re here to help.”
Federal regulations prohibit commercial activity at rest areas, with limited exceptions. Last week, the Federal Highway Administration announced they would temporarily suspend enforcement of those regulations.
Mobile food vendors must download a permit from the ODOT website and display it at all times while operating. They must also abide by state and local food service regulations as well as social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure the safety and health of staff and customers. The Ohio State Highway Patrol will regularly monitor rest areas to enforce compliance with all Ohio laws and regulations by the commercial food truck vendors who elect to set up operations.
The governor also hailed Ohio companies, who he said “are really making a difference.”
He said alcohol distilleries in the state have began producing hand sanitizer.
DeWine said JobsOhio has purchased 3,100 cases of hand sanitizer from this production, amounting to 1 million ounces, to donate to the state’s 12 food banks.
They’ll be arriving at distribution sites this week and delivered soon,” the governor said.

domain: news


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WASHINGTON – Existing-home sales descended in September, the eighth month in a row of declines, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Three out of the four major U.S. regions notched month-over-month sales contractions, while the West held steady. On a year-over-year basis, sales dropped in all regions.
Total existing-home sales, completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, retracted 1.5% from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.71 million in September. Year-over-year, sales waned by 23.8% (down from 6.18 million in September 2021).
“The housing sector continues to undergo an adjustment due to the continuous rise in interest rates, which eclipsed 6% for 30-year fixed mortgages in September and are now approaching 7%,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Expensive regions of the country are especially feeling the pinch and seeing larger declines in sales.”
Total housing inventory registered at the end of September was 1.25 million units, which was down 2.3% from August and 0.8% from the previous year. Unsold inventory sits at a 3.2-month supply at the current sales pace – unchanged from August and up from 2.4 months in September 2021.
“Despite weaker sales, multiple offers are still occurring with more than a quarter of homes selling above list price due to limited inventory,” Yun added. “The current lack of supply underscores the vast contrast with the previous major market downturn from 2008 to 2010, when inventory levels were four times higher than they are today.”
The median existing-home price for all housing types in September was $384,800, an 8.4% jump from September 2021 ($355,100), as prices climbed in all regions. This marks 127 consecutive months of year-over-year increases, the longest-running streak on record. It was the third month in a row, however, that the median sales price faded after reaching a record high of $413,800 in June, the usual seasonal trend of prices trailing off after peaking in the early summer.
Properties typically remained on the market for 19 days in September, up from 16 days in August and 17 days in September 2021. Seventy percent of homes sold in September 2022 were on the market for less than a month.
First-time buyers were responsible for 29% of sales in September, unchanged from August 2022 and slightly higher than 28% from September 2021. NAR’s 2021 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers – released in late 2021 – found that the annual share of first-time buyers was 34%.
All-cash sales accounted for 22% of transactions in September, down from 24% in August and 23% in September 2021.
Individual investors or second-home buyers, who make up many cash sales, purchased 15% of homes in September, down from 16% in August, but up from 13% in September 2021.
Distressed sales – foreclosures and short sales – represented 2% of sales in September, a marginal increase from 1% in August 2022 and September 2021.
According to Freddie Mac, the average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was 6.11% in September, up from 5.22% in August. The average commitment rate across all of 2021 was 2.96%.
Realtor.com®’s Market Trends Report in September shows that the largest year-over-year median list price growth occurred in Miami (+28.3%), Memphis (+27.3%) and Milwaukee (+27.0%). Phoenix reported the highest increase in the share of homes that had their prices reduced compared to last year (+32.3 percentage points), followed by Austin (+27.4 percentage points) and Las Vegas (+20.0 percentage points).
Single-family and condo/co-op sales
Single-family home sales declined to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.22 million in September, down 0.9% from 4.26 million in August and down 23.0% from the previous year. The median existing single-family home price was $391,000 in September, up 8.1% from September 2021.
Existing condominium and co-op sales were recorded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 490,000 units in September, down 5.8% from August and 30.0% from one year ago. The median existing condo price was $331,700 in September, an annual increase of 9.8%.
“Buying or selling a home involves a series of requirements and variables, and it’s important to have someone in your corner from start to finish to make the process as smooth as possible,” said NAR President Leslie Rouda Smith.
“Realtors rely on in-depth knowledge of the market and objectivity to deliver trusted expertise to consumers in every U.S. ZIP code.”
Existing-home sales in the Northeast dwindled 1.6% from August to an annual rate of 610,000 in September, retreating 18.7% from September 2021. The median price in the Northeast was $418,500, an increase of 8.3% from one year ago.
Existing-home sales in the Midwest slid 1.7% from the previous month to an annual rate of 1,140,000 in September, falling 19.7% from September 2021. The median price in the Midwest was $281,500, up 6.9% from the prior year.
In the South, existing-home sales pulled back 1.9% in September from August to an annual rate of 2,080,000, a decline of 23.8% from this time last year. The median price in the South was $351,700, an increase of 11.8% from September 2021.
Existing-home sales in the West were identical to last month at an annual rate of 880,000 in September, but down 31.3% from one year ago. The median price in the West was $595,400, a 7.1% increase from September 2021.
Source: National Association of Realtors®
© 2022 Florida Realtors®


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| Apr 25, 2013
| 8:40 AM
In the market for a hot-water-dispensing refrigerator? That was just one of the innovative and unusual products on display recently at the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas.
The annual event, put on by the National Association of Home Builders,...
| Nov 11, 2013
| 7:54 AM
Honda released a sketch of its new fuel cell concept vehicle, pointing to the design direction of the next-generation Clarity hydrogen car, which it now leases in small numbers in California.
Honda says it plans to launch its next-generation fuel cell...
| Apr 25, 2013
| 11:35 AM
Ford Motor Co. will offer a $25,000 first prize for whoever makes the best phone app for fuel efficiency.
The Ford Personalized Efficiency Challenge runs through July 24. Anyone entering has to work through the automaker's OpenXC research platform....
| Jan 22, 2014
| 11:48 AM
A new kind of regenerative braking system by Cadillac has been awarded the Green Car Technology Award for 2014.
The Regen on Demand system found in the Cadillac ELR plug-in luxury coupe allows the driver to use paddle shifters to regenerate energy and...
| May 22, 2013
| 1:46 PM
Upstart electric car maker Tesla Motors on Wednesday paid off a Department Energy loan that had become a political hot potato.
Tesla owed the federal government $451.8 million on a loan that was part of a special program to develop alternative fuel...
| Nov 5, 2013
| 7:32 AM
Toyota Motor Corp. revealed a sneak peak of its FCV Concept hydrogen fuel cell vehicle Tuesday, an early version of the car it thinks will popularize fuel cell autos just as the Prius made hybrids mainstream.
“It is a very intriguing proposition...
| Feb 4, 2014
| 2:47 PM
Broward County will try to cut its electricity use and turn to renewable energy sources, as it continues to plan for global warming.
County commissioners voted 8-1 Tuesday to set energy goals, saying the White House has made it clear that planning for...
| Apr 23, 2013
| 5:44 PM
Name: Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit
What it is: an eco-friendly recharging kit that uses either solar power or electricity to charge its Switch 8 lithium ion portable battery, which has a tip for solar charging and another for USB charging. It...
| Mar 7, 2013
| 9:03 PM
The Glendale Unified School District will undertake its largest solar project yet when it installs panels at Glendale High School this summer that could generate 427 kilowatts of power, which is about 25% of the power used by the school in a year....
| Mar 12, 2013
| 5:15 AM
Commentator Harry Alford's claim that focusing on fracking legislation in Maryland constitutes a waste of time and effort suggests a shocking ignorance of what is happening in other states ("Anti-fracking legislation is premature," March 7). Maryland's...
| Mar 14, 2013
| 4:00 AM
A deal environmentalists thought had been worked out to stop mostly out-of-state paper mills from cashing in on Maryland's renewable energy law by burning so-called "black liquor" has come unglued. The state's only paper plant in Allegany County has...


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April NTR Sales Climb, Expected to Exceed $910 Million
May 20, 2019 | James Sprow | Blue Vault
Reporting nontraded REITs booked capital raise of $910.7 million in April, up 16% from the $786.4 million total for March and up 121% from the $412.6 million monthly average for the same NTRs in Q4 2018. Blackstone REIT saw capital raise increase in April by 23.7%, but the total for all other reporting effective nontraded REIT offerings showed a decrease of 5.5%%, from $212.4 million to $200.8 million, as Blackstone REIT’s share of total NTR sales jumped from 73% in March to 78% in April. Starwood REIT did not respond to requests for sales figures for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, or for the month of April. Blue Vault estimates that Starwood REIT had sales of $165 million in Q4 2018, which, if continued at that pace, could add significantly to NTR sales totals for the month of April. Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT III did not report sales for April, but the REIT’s May 9 10-Q SEC filing for Q1 2019 states that subsequent to March 31, approximately $1.4 million was raised. While total sales for reporting REITs, without Starwood, totaled $912.2 million, Starwood’s sales could raise the industry total above $950 million.
*The following NTRs would not provide sales data to Blue Vault: FS Credit Real Estate Income Trust, Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT III, and Starwood REIT. The following NTRs did not provide sales data to Blue Vault: Nuveen Global Cities REIT and Oaktree REIT.
With the Blackstone REIT April sales of $709.9 million, up 23.7% from sales in March of $574.0 million, the 15.8% increase in total capital raise month-to-month among reporting NTRs was due mainly to that REIT’s success and the pick-up in sales by several other REITs, offsetting the effects of drops in sales by other NTRs. Jones Lang LaSalle Income Property Trust had sales increase over 92%, from $21.6 million to $41.6 million. Cantor Fitzgerald’s two nontraded REITs, Rodin Global Property Trust and Rodin Income Trust, had sales increases of 41% and 21%, respectively. Cottonwood Communities had capital raise of $13.8 million in April, up 47% from the March total of $9.4 million.
In terms of ranking, after Blackstone REIT the next NTR with $41.6 million and a 4.6% share was Jones Lang LaSalle Income Property Trust, followed by Hines Global Income Trust with $37.5 million for a 4.1% share. Black Creek Industrial REIT IV was fourth, with $29.1 million and a 3.2% share.
For the reporting sponsors of nontraded REIT offerings in April, Blackstone was first in capital raised with $709.9 million and a 78.0% share. Black Creek Group, with two open programs, was next with $45.9 million for a 5.0% share. Jones Lang LaSalle ranked third with $41.6 million and a 4.6% share, followed by Hines with $37.5 million and a 4.1% share of all reported NTR sales.
Due to the lack of capital raise reports from four effective NTRs, most notably Starwood REIT, it is likely that the industry total was significantly greater than $911 million for April, possibly over $950 million. Year-over-year, April 2019 NTR sales were up over 140% from April 2018, even without the non-reporting REITs. The estimated four-month YTD total is $2.62 billion, without Starwood, and at least $2.8 billion with Starwood’s estimated sales added. That would yield an estimated Y-O-Y increase of over 190% for the first four months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.
Nontraded BDC Sales Fell 23% in April
Nontraded BDC sales fell 23% from $44.6 million in March to $34.4 million in April, with only two nontraded BDC programs raising funds in April 2019 compared to six in April 2018 and seven in February 2018. Owl Rock Capital Advisors again led nontraded BDC sponsors with sales of $33.0 million by its Owl Rock Capital Corporation II program, 96% of nontraded BDC sales in April, down 23% from its $42.8 million sales in March. MacKenzie Realty Capital was the only other BDC program raising capital with $1.34 million in sales for a 4% share in April, down 24.5% from its March sales of $1.77 million.
Nontraded Preferred Sales by Listed REITs
Blue Vault receives sales reports from three listed REITs that issue nontraded preferred shares. Nontraded preferred sales by these REITs totaled $29.63 million in April 2019, up 28.3% from the $23.10 million total in March. Bluerock Residential Growth had sales of $19.62 million for April, increasing 56% from the $12.58 total for March. Gladstone Land Corp. reported nontraded preferred sales of $5.84 million for April down 19.5% from the $7.25 million in March. CIM Commercial Trust had nontraded preferred sales of $4.17 million in April, up 27.4% from March sales of $3.27.
At least one additional listed REIT issues nontraded preferred stock. Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. does not report monthly preferred share sales to Blue Vault but SEC filings for Q1 2019 show proceeds of $128.7 million, before offering costs, from sales of units consisting of one share of Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock and one warrant to purchase up to 20 shares of Common. If the pace of preferred sales by this listed REIT continued in April 2019, the total for four listed REITs issuing nontraded preferred would exceed $70 million for the month.
Sources: Reporting NTRs and BDCs, SEC and Blue Vault
Best Due Diligence meeting in the industry. No sales pitches, senior level decision makers, meaningful discussions and the Broker Dealer networking sessions were especially useful. Thanks to Blue Vault for raising the bar!


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Vietnam-based garment producer, Garment 10 Corporation (Garco 10) has announced that they are prepared to invest in the export of Tanzania cotton if producers in…
Tanzania’s industrial sector production reached USD 13.5 billion (33% of GDP) in 2018, compared to USD 9.1 billion in 2014, marking an increase of 48%.
Tanzania’s construction sector generated USD 6.7 billion (14% of GDP) in 2018, compared to USD 4 billion in 2014, representing an increase of 68%.
According to the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), the growth in the construction sector was attributed to growing public investments (construction of standard gauge railway, bridges, airports, and roads, expansion of ports), as well as on-going rehabilitation of metre-gauge railway.
Manufacturing in Tanzania
Tanzania’s manufacturing sector generated USD 4.1 billion (8% of GDP) in 2018, compared to USD 3 billion in 2014, representing an increase of 39%.
Since agriculture is the mainstay of the Tanzanian economy, the manufacturing industry is centered around the processing of local agricultural goods.
The manufacturing sector in Tanzania consists mainly of food processing (24%), textiles and clothing (10%), chemicals (8.5%), and others, including beverages, leather and leather products, paper and paper products, publishing and printing, and plastics.
Export of Tanzanian manufactured goods includes cotton yarn, processed coffee and tobacco, sisal products (yarn and twine), wheat flour, plastic items, textile apparel, and cement.
Tanzania’s manufactured goods export reached USD 795 million in 2018, compared to USD 1.2 billion in 2014 (-36%), and accounting for 18% of the total value of goods export.
Tanzania Key Industries
Currently, the majority of crops in Tanzania are marketed in their raw forms, while value-addition to agricultural products is mostly on a small-scale secondary level.
Still, the Tanzanian agriculture value-added net output increased by 46% during the period 2012–2017, from USD 10.5 billion to USD 15.3 billion.
Currently, value-added products in Tanzania include cotton yarn, manufactured coffee and tobacco, sisal products (yarn and twine), and wheat flour.
In line with the 2025 Vision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives of Tanzania, there should be at least two new products developed from each of the staple crops, horticultural crops, livestock, and fisheries by that year.
Tanzania Construction Materials
Construction materials in Tanzania include cement and cement products, bricks and building blocks, wood building columns, and others.
Tanzania’s cement production amounted to 4.5 million tonnes in 2018, compared to 2.8 million tonnes in 2014, representing an increase of 61%.
The Tanzania Portland Cement Company (TPCC) is the leading company in Tanzania’s cement industry, holding 36% of the market share. The company’s production of cement stands at 2 million tonnes per year as a result of the construction of a new Cement Mill (CM5), completed in 2014.
Africa’s leading cement producer, Dangote Cement, commissioned the largest cement factory in Tanzania (the Mtwara plant) in December 2015. The Tanzanian plant is part of Dangote’s regional plan to shift Africa from cement importer to producer, raising the yearly production by 25 million tonnes per annum.
The Government of Tanzania focuses on industrialization as the main catalyst to transform the economy, generate sustainable growth, and reduce poverty.
The Government of Tanzania introduced its Sustainable Industrial Development Policy (SIDP) in 1996 to phase itself out of investing directly in productive activities and let the private sector take that role.
The main purpose of the Government’s SIDP is to design a plan for industrializing Tanzania so that the country becomes semi-industrialized by 2025.
In order for Tanzania to become a semi-industrialized country, the contribution of manufacturing to the national economy must reach a minimum of 40% of the GDP by 2025.
Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) are expected to provide the capital for the desired industrial development.
In 2002 Tanzania established its Export Processing Zones (EPZ) scheme, to provide for the establishment of export-oriented investments within the designated zones with the views of creating international competitiveness for export-led economic growth.
Tanzania’s EPZs are conducive environments for the promotion of exports of products that use local materials, such as textiles and garments, leather goods, agro-processing, and the lapidary industry.
In addition, in 2006 the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) scheme was introduced, to promote quick and significant progress in economic growth, export earnings, and employment creation as well as attracting private investment in the form of both Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Domestic Direct Investment (DDI) from all productive and service sectors.
Sources: Bank of Tanzania (BoT), Tanzania Portland Cement (TPC)
Last Update: 8th September 2020
Tanzania-born entrepreneur and politician, Mohammed Dewji, is one of the youngest billionaires in Africa in 2014 and is listed in the second annual ranking of…
Tanzania-based steel manufacturer, Motisun Group has announced that it has moved to the final stages of construction for its new mini-steel mill in Nacala, Mozambique….
In response to the growing demand for quality garments and the huge potential of the Tanzania textile sector, the government has established the Textile Development…
Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa (PMMAF) has announced plans to enter the Tanzania electrical construction materials market in a partnership with United Traders LLC…
As a result of positive weather and planting conditions, the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) has announced its projections for an overall increase coffee in the…
The Tanzania National Development Corporation (NDC) made an official announcement on behalf of the government of Tanzania, indicating that country will soon be among the…
Dr Abdallah Kigoda, Tanzania Minister for Industry and Trade reassured investors about the reliable supply and adequate pricing of natural gas. The reassurance follows the…
The USD 48 Million grants will see road and electricity infrastructure in Tanzania improved. The grants primarily focus on improving infrastructure in the capital, Dar…
According to Tanzania’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Production Index of Manufacturing (PIMI) achieved 10.8% growth in 2012, the highest increase since 2006. The…


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And as far as technology is concerned? We are facing a major challenge, as the implementation of the GRPD and Google’s decision not to have cookies in Chrome, which is one of the most used browsers in the world. This is an urgent challenge for measurements and for effectiveness.
In this sense, the mobile telephone numbers australia data that advertisers have and its treatment with machine learning and artificial intelligence will have more importance. This is going to generate a dimensional leap in advertising, as is already taking place in ecommerce, in customer service, among other areas.
It must be remembered that Amazon has entered strongly with advertising with its own programmatic software, facing Google and Facebook.
Artificial intelligence tools will be accessible to all companies. Small and medium-sized businesses need the support of agencies to help them use and get the most out of them.
This technology is so disruptive that it will become a competitive factor that those who do not use it will disappear. In fact, we already have companiesAustralia Phone Number Database that have grown exponentially in recent years that use artificial intelligence massively, such as Netflix, which produces series that it knows will like and thus gets more time spent on them; or Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, which are the social networks to which more minutes are dedicated, above any other traditional medium. Everything is thanks to artificial intelligence.
The jump to the advertising level will be when the data helps to do the advertising optimization with artificial intelligence and there are still few companies that are dedicating equipment and resources to do it seriously. This is so in part because it will mean a very big change in the organization and work processes.


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News Now | United States of America – BBC
Despite the US sanctions … Huawei is making slight profits
The International GSM Association (GSMA) is organizing the 2021 World Mobile Phone Congress in Shanghai from 23-25 February in Shanghai, China.
More than 200 companies and about 20,000 people attended the conference.
But the three-day event has been curtailed compared to previous years, with 60,000 people participating in the fair during the last 2016 year.
Corona’s impact on the Mobile World Congress
Face masks are mandatory on the show, and exhibitors have been told that they must adhere to “strict” capacity limits at their stands.
The event organizer said the combination of Corona prevention measures and the country’s vibrant tech sector means it is the only place that can host such an exhibition at this time.
“We believe this conference will help boost global industry confidence,” added Sihan Bo Chen, president of the Greater China GSMA Trade Association.
The Mobile World Congress is held against a backdrop of continuing trade tensions between the United States and China.
In the company’s keynote address Huawei Chairman Ken Ho said it had only grown slightly over the past year.
President Donald Trump’s administration blacklisted the company in 2019 and blocked access to computer chip manufacturers in 2020.
The exhibition also comes at a time when other attendees – including US chip designer Qualcomm – have warned that they are facing chip supply issues because demand is outstripping supply.
But it is also an opportunity to showcase innovations.
The conference is sponsored by a group of leading global companies in the telecommunications and information technology industry, such as “Ericsson”, “Huawei” and “IntelAnd ZTE, among others.
It is worth noting that the International Mobile Network Association is an organization that expresses the interests of mobile phone companies around the world and includes more than 750 mobile phone network operators in the world and 400 companies specialized in this field.
Why is “Huawei” more dangerous than we imagine?
After the controversy caused by the conflict between the United States of America and other countries on the one hand, and China because of Huawei, questions have emerged about the extent of the danger of the latter and the insistence of countries to investigate their activities in the field of communication and surveillance technology.


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We look at the new faces in healthcare promotion, and ask; why aren’t the old ones keeping up?
It cannot be a surprise to anyone that the new kids on the block, and who are bringing a whole empire of new digital medical tools to the market – is China. Not only are we seeing – every week – an announcement from the elder statesmen of HIMSS Asia about their presence in Shanghai – but the most compelling and forceful marketing piece comes from Yolanda Li, at the CMEF Trade Fair in just a few days – also in Shanghai. What she says is this:
“The China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) was launched in the year 1979. It has now become one of the world’s leading global integrated service platforms in the value chain of medical devices, covering products and technology, new product launches, procurement and trade, scientific collaboration, academic forums, brand promotion, education and training. The fair widely covers more than ten thousand products, including medical optical and electro-medical devices, smart health-care and wearable equipment, and services including medical imaging, medical examination, in-vitro diagnostics and hospital construction. More than 7,000 medical device manufacturers from over 30 different countries and regions have annually exhibited their products and services with us at the CMEF. For trading and exchanging of medical products and services, about 2,000 specialists and talents and almost 200,000 visitors and buyers including government procurement agencies, hospital buyers and dealers from over 100 countries and regions gather at the CMEF.
What you could get from the CMEF Spring 2019:
1.An optimal opportunity to be exposed to one of the largest medical devices showcase with well-known exhibitors and their new production release;
2.The best chance to look into rapid-growing Chinese medical devices market, knowing the latest technology and tendency;
3.Meeting industrial experts on various conference and our CMEF Featured Country Day activities.
And she goes on….“Please visit our official website for the 81st CMEF Spring latest floorplan, completed exhibitor list, onsite activities and conference:
This compares with the latest Announcement from the VITALIS people in Gothenburg, regarding their own Conference just a week later.
Except that… I read with great interest, the announcement from Yolanda, – because it was in English. The VITALIS editorial, was in Swedish – and I brushed over this. I have no idea what they are saying.
The point of which is twofold; if you are serious about international, then it has to be in English. Doing local language says just that – you are local end of story. And as a Brit, writing on these pages – let’s not forget the importance that the “british language” has in the world.


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Bitcoin loses all gains since Musk comments in February
The cryptocurrency Bitcoin has lost its gains after a rise in value in February when Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that his company would accept the cryptocurrency to purchase Tesla vehicles, Bloomberg reported.
Bitcoin took a dive of almost 22 percent to $35,000, a decrease that has wiped out more than $500 billion from the currency’s peak market value, according to Bloomberg.
The decrease marks almost a complete loss in gains since Tesla announced Feb. 8 that it would buy Bitcoin and accept the currency to buy the company’s electric vehicles. At its peak, Bitcoin was worth over $64,000.
Other cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin and Ethereum also fell over 40 percent, according to the news outlet.
The news comes after a series of dizzying tweets from Musk about the cryptocurrency that threw investors last week. Musk that his company has suspended sales of vehicles using Bitcoin, citing concern of rapid use of fossil fuel for Bitcion’s mining and transactions.
Tesla & Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/YSswJmVZhP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2021
“We are concerned about the rapidly increasing use of fossil fuels for Bitcoin mining and transactions, especially coal, which has the worst emissions of any fuel,” Musk said in a statement posted to Twitter.
“Cryptocurrency is a good idea on many levels and we believe it has a promising future, but this cannot come at great cost to the environment,” he continued.
He later shared on Twitter Monday that the company hasn’t sold any of its Bitcoin.
The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.


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St. Louis Rams fans: if you think a winning touchdown has been impossible this season, just wait until you try to score some buffalo chicken wings.
Wing demand is on the rise, but due to this year's waning need for chicken breast, poultry producers have cut chicken production for the first time in 36 years. Broiler chicken production is forecast to be down 3.5 percent this year — and, with only two wings per chicken, wholesale wing costs are poised to increase dramatically.
So, much like Super Bowl Sunday last year, on game day other spicy chicken dishes will just have to fly. Since what I really want to eat is buffalo chicken cheese dip, that's fine with me. Will you miss this year's wings? Or are you willing to pay a higher price for them?


text: December 12th, 2010 Bushmaster and Thompson/Center Arms Factories to Close Two New England gun-making facilities will soon close their doors. The operations of both Bushmaster (Maine) and Thompson/Center Arms (New Hampshire) are being relocated to other facilities owned by their respective corporate parents. Bushmaster Plant in Maine to Close First, the Freedom Group, which owns Remington, Bushmaster, Marlin and other companies, announced that it will close Bushmasterfs Windham, ME facility, geffective March 31, 2011. According to an official press release: gThe Company will relocate manufacturing of all Bushmaster products currently produced at Windham to other, existing Freedom Group Facilities. The move will have no impact on customers or the existing supply base.h John B. Blystone, Chairman of the Freedom Groupfs Board of Directors, commented: gWe are continuing to adjust our operations in order to remain competitivec. Given increasing costs and pricing pressures affecting the entire firearms industry, this action is clearly necessary[.]h T/C New Hampshire Facility To Be Phased Out Smith & Wesson, parent of Thompson/Center Arms (T/C), is pulling the plug on T/Cfs Rochester, New Hampshire operation. The Rochester factory will be phased out starting in January 2011, and finishing before the end of next year (2011). T/C production will be switched to Smith & Wessonfs Springfield, MA facility. Some workers may be relocated, but most will lose their jobs. According to S&W Mktg. Service Director Paul Pluff: gWe needed to streamline in order to make our company more efficient and profitable.h S&W Human Resources VP Bill Lachenmeyer explained that the plant closure was due to a big decline in T/C sales over the last three years. S&W invested heavily in the new line of T/C Icon hunting rifles but the Icons didnft sell well. Likewise sales of T/Cfs signature Encore and Contender tilt-breech hunting pistols declined in the economic downturn.


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The City of New York is reportedly planning to revive 250 old phone booths with the introduction of 32-inch Internet-ready “smart screens” throughout the five boroughs, The New York Post reported on Monday. The touch-screens will display local neighborhood information in multiple languages, including lists of nearby restaurants, stores in the area, traffic updates, landmark information and safety alerts. If the pilot program is successful, the futuristic screens could replace all of the city’s 12,800 outdoor pay phones. “The goal is to pilot it and see what the response is,” said Nicholas Sbordone, a spokesman for the city’s department of Information Technology & Telecommunications. “It will help inform the city’s ongoing reassessment, with public input, of what we want or what we think the future of public pay phones will entail.” Read on for more. More →
Researchers from North Carolina State University have found that mobile applications that integrate advertisements pose privacy and a security risks. The team conducted a study that examined 100,000 apps from the Google Play market and noticed that more than half contained “ad libraries,” while 297 of the apps included “aggressive ad libraries” that could download and run code from remote servers. Researchers also found that more than 48,000 of the apps that were examined could track location via GPS, while others could access call logs, phone numbers and a list of all the apps a user has stored on his or her phone. Read on for more. More →
Amazon announced on Thursday that Amazon.com customers are now purchasing more books for the Kindle than print books — including hardcover and paperback — combined. Since April 1st, for example, for every 100 print books that were sold on Amazon.com, the site sold 105 Kindle eBooks. “Customers are now choosing Kindle books more often than print books,” Amazon’s CEO and Founder Jeff Bezos said. “We had high hopes that this would happen eventually, but we never imagined it would happy this quickly — we’ve been selling print books for 15 years and Kindle books for less than four years.” Bezos also noted that Amazon has been pleased with the customer response to the $114 Kindle with Special Offers product, which is the most popular selling Kindle right now. Hit the jump for the full release. More →
According to Amazon’s “Bestsellers in Electronics” list, the company’s $114 ad-subsidized “Kindle with Special Offers,” is the most popular model in the Kindle family of eReaders. The device — launched on April 13th — is just $25 cheaper than the $139 Kindle Wi-Fi version, but it comes with sponsored screen savers and advertisements on the bottom of the screen. We originally suspected that most people would splurge for the Wi-Fi version and avoid ads, but perhaps users aren’t as turned off to them as we thought. All of this only matters, of course, if the Bestsellers list is to be believed. More →
Skype announced on Monday that it will soon add advertisements to its desktop software. The move is thought to be an effort to introduce a new revenue stream ahead of the company’s IPO, which will occur this year. The new display ads will be rolled out in the U.S., U.K. and Germany this week, and they will appear on the Home tab of Skype’s desktop software. Initial ad buys that will begin running as soon as Skype’s new ads go live come from companies including Groupon, Universal Pictures and Visa. While Skype’s long-term plans remain unclear, the company said that it will initially only display ads from a single brand each day. For the time being, Skype’s ads will appear only in its Windows client, not its Mac application. More →
Google has introduced new location-aware advertising for iPhone and Android handsets. Advertisers will now have the ability to select a “location extension for display” option that will serve up their ads based upon a user’s GPS coordinates. Ads will appear within mobile applications and mobile browsers and will allow users to get mapping and contact information for businesses that are within the immediate area. This feature is pretty cool once you get over the creepiness of Google sending ads to you based upon your device, the context of your mobile usage, and now your location.
[Via Tech Crunch] More →
Rumors of a Superbowl ad for Google’s search service began circulating the internet last week when Google CEO Eric Schmidt tweeted: “Can’t wait to watch the Superbowl tomorrow. Be sure to watch the ads in the 3rd quarter. (someone said, ‘Hell has indeed frozen over’).” Google, a company known for it’s web advertisements, rarely (ever?) spends company dollars on television-based ads for its line of web services. However, as tweeted by the CEO, a Google spot did air during the third quarter of the big game last night. We thought the 60-second spot, titled “Parisian Love”, was pretty clever and deserved a nod, even though it wasn’t exactly new. Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints on their victory last night; we have the video queued up for you after the break. More →
Microsoft has started to ramp up its advertisement of Windows 7 and they’ve enlisted some serious star power to do it; Stewie and Brian Griffin. A special titled “Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show” will air November 8th on Fox at 8:30p (EST and PST). You won’t have to deal with any commercials, just the constant subtle placement of Windows 7 into the plot line. The deal is also said to include a 12-week college tour with outdoor movie nights hosted by Brian and Stewie. Can cartoon characters give Windows 7 the “mo” it needs to have a successful launch? We’ll see. And hey, if you need your memory refreshed, this is Microsoft’s last Windows advertising adventure, staring comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
Palm’s location-based advertising patent likely sheds light on background location reporting in webOS
Remember last month when a developer revealed some hidden functionality in webOS that periodically reports a user’s location back to Palm? Well as it turns out, the reasoning behind the Big Brother-esque move may be even worse than you think. Drum roll please… Location-based advertising. We’ve uncovered a patent application filed by Palm in November of last year that could end up being one of the worst things to happen to webOS since its birth. As described within the application itself, the patent “provides a method and system thereof that can be used to more effectively target advertisements and other services to users of wireless communication devices.” More from the patent description:
Based upon the location data from the appointment and the location of device 310 (or other alternative location provided by the user), processor 340 may then provide advertisement data (step 386), for example, along the driving route between the location of the appointment and the current location of device 310 within a predetermined distance of the location of the appointment and/or the current location of device 310, and so on.
In other words, the system will keep tabs on your location in order to serve ads that will theoretically get you to spend money on the spot. Why not stop off for a coffee in this Starbucks? How about a tasty Angus Third Pounder from the McDonald’s down the block? But wait, it gets worse. Palm’s concept goes even further to pull appointment information out of your calendar in order to serve contextual ads based on your destination location in addition to your current location. While this concept is pretty brilliant, it’s also remarkably invasive and frankly, a bit frightening. Is the future of mobile advertising a gross invasion of our privacy?
We’ve been wondering how long it would take Microsoft to kick things up a notch with its responses to Apple’s I’m a Mac smear series. Times are tough these days and it looks like Microsoft is finally starting to target cost with its latest TV ad. Titled Windows Laptop Hunters, the spot features a young woman named Lauren tasked with finding a laptop that meets her requirements — “speed, a comfortable keyboard and a 17-inch screen” — for under $1,000. If she finds one, be it a Mac or a PC, Microsoft will buy it for her. You know as well as we do that the only way anyone is scoring a new Mac laptop with a 17-inch for under $1,000 is armed robbery, so you can imagine how the commercial plays out. Forgetting the fact that the Best Buy she was shopping in apparently doesn’t charge a sales tax, Lauren ends up with an HP Pavilion for $699.99; a price even the most modest MacBook can’t come close to touching. The model she walked with features a 2.1GHz AMD Turion X2 with 4GB of DDR2 RAM, 320GB hard drive, DVD-RW drive and of course a 1440×900 17-inch display — definitely a solid system.
No, we haven’t quite stooped to the level of a local politician’s attack campaign quite yet, but it’s good to see Microsoft finally showing a little spunk with its response ads. Considering the times, we imagine there are plenty more value-centric ads from Redmond on the way; at least, we hope there are. Hit the jump to watch the full commercial.
Apparently, thinking Windows Vista is a crappy OS is equivalent to thinking the Earth is flat. Mmm. The above image is a teaser of Microsoft’s upcoming $300 million Vista ad campaign, and we’re not quite sure $300 million is going to be enough to accomplish what Microsoft has set out to accomplish. This is an anti-smear campaign in its truest sense. Vista has been nothing short of a whipping boy for the blogosphere since its trouble-riddled release a year and a half ago. All the cool kids hate Vista. Of course it’s difficult to argue that the general dislike is unfounded but Microsoft is about to do its best to repair Vista’s image. From one of the new Vista anti-smear pages on Microsoft’s site:
When Windows Vista debuted in January 2007, we declared it the best operating system we had ever made. “Windows Vista is beautiful,” The New York Times raved. It’s humbling that millions of you agree.
But we know a few of you were disappointed by your early encounter. Printers didn’t work. Games felt sluggish. You told us—loudly at times—that the latest Windows wasn’t always living up to your high expectations for a Microsoft product…
We know that’s what some people are saying on the Internet. And in its early days, Windows Vista did experience some compatibility problems. But thanks to our industry partners’ efforts during the past 18 months, here’s where things stand today.
Well Microsoft, you’ve got your work cut out for you. As XP’s run comes to an end, now is probably one of the most important times in Microsoft’s long history. Big Billy is gone, the second coming of Mac computers has arrived and Linux is gaining more ground each day. It should be an interesting couple of years ahead of us.


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On the eve of International Customs Day investigators from the SARS Customs Anti-smuggling division made a significant breakthrough in the illicit trade of counterfeit goods when they confiscated a large number of counterfeit cigarettes, DVDs and computer games worth millions of rands during an operation on the East Rand.
Acting on information Customs officials sealed off about 130 storage units in an industrial area near Germiston. Upon inspection large quantities of contrabands were discovered including:
Had the goods not been detected it may have resulted in a potential revenue loss of R3.2 million in Value Added Tax to the fiscus. By 19:00 the evening SARS officials were still busy clearing the warehouses.
No suspects have been apprehended but arrests are imminent.
The huge quantity of counterfeit goods confiscated indicates the serious threat illegal trade poses to legitimate economic activity. On 26 January 2005 (tomorrow) South Africa, through SARS, and 163 members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), will observe International Customs Day. The WCO has identified commercial fraud a serious concern for customs administrations around the world as it threatens the economic security of trade supply chains. Trade supply chains are at risk of being exploited by organised crime syndicates, rogue traders and must contend with the threat of international terror.
For more information please contact Sechaba Nkosi at (012) 422 5046 or 082 465 2901
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE


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Here’s what’s trending this week: Could step by step directions soon include how to maneuver through a store? * Wearable tech gear for various industries are on the horizon * Smart Chips are the next step in credit card technology * Facebook has a history of tracking its users * In-store “cookies” could help retailers pitch more products to consumers, and much more.
- Mapping Our Interiors
The New York Times – May 18, 2014 by Quentin Hardy
- ‘Salesforce Wear:’ A Wearable Tech Toolset for the Enterprise
CIO – June 10, 2014 by Al Sacco
- A Top-Secret Facility In Denver Is Producing The Next Big Thing In Credit Cards
BusinessInsider.com – June 15, 2014 by Jason Steele
- It’s Complicated: Facebook’s History of Tracking You
ProPublica – June 17, 2014 by Julia Angwin
- Could retailers have an in-store cookie?
Digiday – June 20, 2014
- FORECAST: US In-Store Mobile Payments To Reach $189 Billion By 2018
BusinessInsider.com – June 23, 2014 by John Heggestuen
- E-COMMERCE AND THE FUTURE OF RETAIL: 2014 [SLIDE DECK] BusinessInsider,com – June 24, 2014 by Cooper Smith
- The End of the Internet?
The Atlantic – June 25, 2014 by Gordon M. Goldstein


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San Marcos residents and students are asked to show their love for downtown retailers this February as the City’s Main Street Program kicks off the LOVE Downtown campaign.
LOVE Campaign to Benefit Students, Local Businesses
February is a month of love and romance, now also a month of giveaways to encourage shopping in the downtown district. The San Marcos Main Street Program launched LOVE Downtown campaign for the first time in city’s history. For every $25 spent at a downtown business during the month of February, shoppers may share a picture of their receipt to be entered into a drawing, The drawing will take place every Friday for weekly prizes and a grand cash prize on February 28. Pictures can be shared via all social media outlets with #LOVEsmtx as well as through text and e-mail messages. Main Street Program manager Samantha Armbruster said it is important to support local businesses because they are a big part of the community.
“These local businesses not only are hiring locals but they also are giving back to our community as well. So they are important for our town’s character, they are important for the support of our community. They embody the spirit of San Marcos, which is friendly, full of character and interesting.”
– Samantha Armbruster
A Cash Mob will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, February 14 in businesses on North LBJ corner. A Cash Mob is a concentrated period of time where shoppers are asked to make purchases at local retailers to show their support. During this time, participants can also leave ‘LOVE notes’ inside retailers, sign the LOVE Downtown mural, take fun pictures in a photo booth and enjoy free cocoa and snacks. Main Street Program coordinator Kayli Head said local businesses especially need the support due to the construction in the downtown area.
“Supporting them through this construction is going to be so vital to their success. They understand what to come from this construction, it’s going to be so great when it’s finished, wide sidewalks, café space, really an inevitable walkable environment. It’s just weathering that time to get there is a little tough.”
– Kavli Head
Shoppers can also show their love and support by voting for their favorite downtown store. The business with the most votes will also receive a cash prize.
Artist: Burial Album: Rival Dealer Label: Hyperdub Release Date: December 11, 2013 Website: hyperdub.net/artists/view/Burial Fruitless anticipation. Unrequited hope. A theme of futility. This EP begins in a frantic pace that escalates to a head spin within the vigorous first track, “Rival Dealer,” as if on the verge of a climax—yet the mood drops before ever seeming to reach what’s sought after. Steaming anguish evolves into a more subtle melancholy, infused […]
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Top Plant-based Protein Producers Make Expansion, Distribution Efforts
A pair of companies leading the way for the plant-based protein industry, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods both announced moves to boost their presence in the retail and foodservice landscape.
On Monday, Beyond Meat announced it will double the distribution of its Beyond Breakfast Sausage Patties. The company said the product will be available in additional Kroger, Super Target, Walmart, Publix and Harris Teeter stores by the end of the month.
“Following the initial release of our Beyond Breakfast Sausage Patties at retailers earlier this year, we heard an enthusiastic and overwhelmingly positive response from consumers who asked for increased availability,” said Chuck Muth, Chief Growth Officer, Beyond Meat...
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By Cindy Taylor/Publisher
Recently, the “Godfather of Fintech” – Ron Suber – was in Atlanta to deliver the keynote address at the Fintech South 2018 event.
The two-day conference, sponsored by the Technology Association of Georgia and held at Atlanta’s gleaming new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, featured key thought leaders in the industry, as well as current and emerging Fintech leaders from across the globe. Topics covered included Security, Regulations, Blockchain & Crypto, AI & Big Data, Banking & Lending, and Commerce & Retail Payments, though the latter was the most prevalent, since Atlanta is the unofficial global center for the payments sector.
Suber has become one of the most recognizable voices in the global Fintech arena. Since officially departing the Fintech he helped to create, the former President of Prosper Marketplace has become a leading industry advocate for online lending and financial innovation in general. An active investor in dozens of early stage Fintech firms including the Vice Chairman role at Credible, Suber has spent years evangelizing on the need to improve upon existing analog financial services. He believes Fintech can provide access to sophisticated banking services for the underbanked at a far lower cost. Suber frequently expresses shares his vision of the future of finance.
One of the key takeaways from his speech at the Fintech South event had to do with fear:
According to Suber…..”I am More Excited than Ever! 😊”
You can view the speech he delivered at Fintech South through the link below:


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Heineken USA Launches First-Party Data Strategy To Prepare For A Cookieless Future
In 2016, Heineken USA embarked on a customer data strategy to understand more about its consumers and to help drive brand awareness.
Since that time, privacy regulations in Europe, California, Virginia and elsewhere have rolled out, and Apple will soon make IDFA opt-in, likely limiting its use for advertisers.
The world’s second-largest beer maker was looking for ways to “future proof” its data strategy around identity, privacy and consent, and use data across its brands — Heineken USA also owns Dos Equis and Tecate — to ensure it can segment and target across channels.
Initially, the company relied on a data management platform (DMP).
But because DMPs are built on cookies and aggregate third-party marketing data, Heineken USA was limited by using DMP segmentation and needed a more sustainable solution, especially after Google announced that it would block third-party cookies in its Chrome browser by 2022 and wouldn’t support alternative IDs.
As a result, there is a sense of urgency among brands to shift away from third-party data, Rebekah Kennedy, Heineken USA’s director of consumer insights, told AdExchanger.
“An issue we had with DMP-based segments historically was that we lacked a lot of insight,” Kennedy said. “DMPs are built on those more anonymous identifiers, and that will become a lot harder to use once these browser changes come. We needed to really look to replace the anonymous identifiers with a more sustainable solution that was built on identity, which we think is used more consistently across channels.”
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The 17th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting was held on 18 June 2017. Key highlights of the said meeting are attached herewith in our Newsflash that can be downloaded from the above link.
The Key Highlights of the said meeting are:
- The GST Council has finalized and approved 4 set of Rules
- Relaxation in return filling procedure for the month July 2017 and August 2017
- No late filling fees or penalties for the said interim period
- Revised rate of GST as 18% for Hotels having per day room tariff between Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 7,500
- Specified the applicability of increased turnover limit for Composition Levy
- Deferred mandatory requirement of E-way Bill, till such time e-way bill system is developed and approved by GST Council
Also, in said newsflash we have covered the notifications issued by the Central Board of Excise and Custom (CBEC) on 19 June 2017.
The next meeting of the Council will be held on 30 June 2017 to launch GST by having a Special Midnight Session in Parliament.
We trust you will find the same useful.


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The New York Times reports:
Digital ads pop up online so frequently and ubiquitously that many people are using software to block them. But if you try to stop ads from showing up on Facebook’s desktop website, you will now be out of luck: The social network has found a way to block the ad blockers.
On Tuesday, Facebook flipped a switch on its desktop website that essentially renders all ad blockers — the programs that prevent websites from displaying ads on the page when a user visits the site — useless. The change allows the Silicon Valley company to serve ads on its desktop site even to people who have ad-blocking software installed and running.
Facebook’s move is set to add to a furious debate about the ethics of ad blocking. On one hand, many digital ads are a nuisance — they slow loading times of web pages and detract from the online experience. Yet the ads also serve as the business foundation for many digital publishers to provide content to readers.
Ad blockers have become a threat to publishers including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, which are facing declining advertising revenue. About 200 million people worldwide use ad-blocking software on their desktop computers, according to estimates from PageFair, an anti-ad-blocking start-up. An additional 420 million use ad blockers on their smartphones, the company said.
“We need to spell this out clearly to our users. The journalism they enjoy costs real money and needs to be paid for,” Mark Thompson, president and chief executive of The Times, said at an ad industry conference in June where he addressed ad blocking. “Advertising is a vital part of the revenue mix.”
Some digital content providers have gone as far as characterizing ad blockers as “theft of service.” I don’t know about that, but the ad blockers are definitely hurting this here website thingy. Since this is a one-man show (IE: no sales team) I have to work with agencies that already keep at least 50% of the revenue. There is a way, of course, to exempt sites that you like from your ad blockers.


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San Francisco: Companies fear a new economic crisis and lay off employees. There is a massive impact in the cryptocurrency space. June was the month with the highest tech layoffs so far in 2022. That was the conclusion of an analysis by Crunchbase, which was published on June 7, 2022. After that, there were at least 75 reports from US tech companies laying off staff. At least 143 US tech firms have laid off more than 24,000 employees so far this year.
Layoffs spiked in May as at least 35 US-based tech companies cut their workforces. That number more than doubled to 74 companies in June in Crunchbase's Tech Layoffs Tracker.
SMS marketing startup Postscript laid off 43 employees just a week after announcing a new $65 million round of funding. Chief Executive Officer Alex Beller tweeted that the round closed in the first quarter of 2022 and "the economic landscape has radically changed" since then .
Netflix is laying off 450 employees
Others cited cost control ahead of a possible recession as a reason for layoffs. At Netflix, the second round of cuts took place in June with 450 layoffs. Major video game developers Unity Technologies and Niantic Labs also laid-off employees, as did a number of crypto companies including Gemini, Coinbase and Blockfi. At the same time , Wireless, one of the pioneers of Open RAN mobile communications technology , laid off around 80 percent of its employees.
Ten companies have announced layoffs so far in July, including Outschool, Celsius and Teleport.


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Tags: Kaeser Compressors
Kaeser Compressors, Inc. has hired Ed Smiley as its new director of sales. Based out of Kaeser’s U.S. headquarters in Fredericksburg, Va., Smiley will lead the sales teams for all Kaeser’s product divisions. “We welcome Ed to the Kaeser family and look ...
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Would you say that whoisguard for this domain is disabled? I have it disabled in Namecheap, and their support has confirmed it's disabled, but WHT staff say it's enabled. I've not included the full domain below so as not to break advertising rules.
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A steady plurality of Americans support impeaching Trump, and a steady majority support the impeachment inquiry
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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Systemax Inc. SYX, +1.65% said late Friday that Deloitte & Touche LLP has decided not to stand for re-appointment as its independent accountant. Deloitte & Touche LLP said the relationship would end upon Systemax's filing of its Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2004. Port Washington, N.Y.-based Systemax, a distributor and manufacturer of computer hardware, said it has begun the process of selecting a new accountant.
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Tourism to benefit from Olympic-level beach volleyball in Waikiki
Hawaii’s famed Waikiki Beach will be transformed into an Olympic-caliber venue later this month when U.S. and China Olympic athletes meet for a beach volleyball tournament.
Team USA players April Ross and Jennifer Kessy, silver medalists at the London Olympics, will compete against Team China’s Chen Xue and Xi Zhang in the women’s match. Kerri Walsh Jennings — who won gold in London and is expecting her third child in April — had been scheduled to play with Ross, but withdrew because of her pregnancy.
As I wrote in Friday's print edition of Pacific Business News, the regulation beach volleyball court will be set up on the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. The matches, tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, will be free and open to the public, who are encouraged to bring beach chairs.
The matches will be broadcast later this year on NBC in the United States and CCTV Sports in China, providing great free advertising for Waikiki tourism to audiences in both countries.
The television exposure has the potential for great impact to the tourism industry, said Les Enderton, executive director of the Oahu Visitors Bureau. “It’s going to build awareness of our product of Hawaii and it’s going to increase people’s desire to visit this destination from China,” he said.
Hilton HHonors is the title sponsor of the Hilton HHonors Beach Volleyball Challenge, and USA Volleyball is working as the event organizer. There are a number of event partners, including United Airlines (NYSE: UAL) and Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp.
Stephanie Silverstein covers tourism, retail and money for Pacific Business News.
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Lower courts had ruled in favour of Coke because the label conforms to Food and Drug Administration laws and regulations.
MaidSafe has created SAFE Network, a world where your information is protected from hackers and government snoops
The company's net income attributable to shareholders fell to $2.60 billion, or 58 cents per share, in the second quarter ended June 27.
Coke has been savvy about trends in the beverage market before. The company was an early investor in bottled water, flavoured juices, and health beverages.
There are several flourishing businesses that one would like to invest in. But these companies may not go public anytime soon
Soda sales are declining as consumers become wary of sugar. And Coca-Cola has a multi-billion dollar response to the slump in the industry.
With a growing number of nuclear families in which both parents go out to work, help in the home remains in high demand in urban India.
AI is upgrading his business and first class facilities at a substantial expense from July 11 to be on a par with fellow blue-blooded Star members.


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With 2,414 boats changing owners in September, sales in the U.S. brokerage market were off 7 percent compared with the same month in 2013.
Yet the average selling prices held even or they improved, except in the superyacht market over 80 feet, according to YachtWorld member brokerages reporting in SoldBoats.com, their proprietary database,
The aggregate price for all boats sold in September was $221 million, down 5 percent from $232 million in the same month last year. Excluding superyacht sales, however, the aggregate price rose from $206 million in 2013 to $218 million this year. At the same time, the average sold price moved upward from $81,000 to $90,000.
One of the reasons for the increase in the average price was that sales were higher in the pricier 36- to 45-foot and 46- to 55-foot segments. And most of the drop in sales came in the two smallest segments, under 26 feet and 26 to 35 feet, which are higher-volume and lower-price categories. But that was not the whole story, as average prices increased in small-boat segments, too.
The highest-volume size range, 26 to 35 feet, saw sales fall 7 percent with 962 boats sold. The sales value increased by 1 percent, however, and the average sale price was up 9 percent from $50,000 to nearly $55,000. Among boats under 26 feet, sales were down 15 percent with 635 boats sold, but the average price increased 5 percent to $14,000.
The strongest results were reported among boats from 46 to 55 feet with 166 sold, a 12 percent gain from September 2013 and a total price of $46 million, a 25 percent increase. The average boat of this size sold for $279,000, 11 percent more than a year earlier. In the 36- to 45-foot range, sales increased 5 percent and the total price paid was up 9 percent, driving the average price up from $121,000 to $126,000.
John Burnham is the editorial director of Dominion Marine Media.
A more detailed report summarizing recent U.S. brokerage sales will appear in the November issue of Soundings Trade Only.


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Israel Corp. (TASE: ILCO) subsidiary IC Green Energy Ltd. (ICG) has acquired 43% of German biodiesel company Petrotec AG (XETRA: PT8) from Warburg Pincus at €2.70 per share, reflecting a company value of €28.3 million.
ICG is also set to make a public offer to purchase the public's shares in Petrotec, which rose 22% in response to the announcement to €2.80. The acquisition is relatively cheap for Israel Corp., given that Petrotec went public two years ago at €17 per share, only to see its share tumble.
Petrotec produces biodiesel from used cooking oil, and therefore does not compete for food crops. The company has two plants in Germany which produce 185,000 tons of biodiesel a year. The company collects used cooking oil for recycling in Europe and the US.
ICG CEO Yom Tov Semia said, "The acquisition of Petrotec is ICG's first investment in the European market as part of our strategy to deepen its activity in the value chain in the biofuels market."
Semia recently told "Globes" that ICG was mainly interested in solar energy, and mid-generation and next-generation biofuels, which do not compete against food crops. "We're examining both Israeli and foreign firms," he said.
Last week, ICG acquired the controlling interest, reportedly about 60%, of Israeli thermoenergy systems developer start-up HelioFocus Ltd.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 1, 2008
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008


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Sahara Centre kicks off Summer Promotion 2010.
Summary: Spend atleast AED 200 at Sahara Centre and earn a raffle ticket to win 5 times more in daily cash
Sahara Centre -- the leading family shopping and entertainment destination in the UAE and one of Sharjah's prominent landmarks -- has announced an exciting and rewarding Summer Promotion 2010.
Scheduled to be held from 17th June up until 7thAug, the promotion promises an array of exciting events lined up to entice the customers.
As part of the promotion, every customer spending a minimum of AED 200 at any outlet in Sahara Centre has a chance to win AED 1000 daily - five times the minimum amount spent.
Additionally, the raffle ticket holders also get a chance to enter the car raffle draw for two Nissan Patrols.
That's not all; Sahara Centre is also hosting an exciting event called 'Sahara Goes Africa', where the FIFA World Cup soccer euphoria will be celebrated in style with an interesting bouquet of in-mall activities and events.
The 'Sahara Goes Africa' 20-day extravaganza will run from the 1st till 22nd July 2010.
Jean Pierre Nammour, Managing Director of Sahara Centre, said: "At Sahara Centre, we never fail to excite our shoppers.
Our 2010 Sahara Summer Promotions is aimed at achieving just that.
This year, we have designed a dynamic retail event that rewards our shoppers and provides wholesome entertainment.
We are confident that when the Sahara Goes Africa extravaganza kicks off it will soak all the shoppers in the World Cup fever and make it a memorable experience.
"'Sahara Goes Africa' extravaganza will not only excite the sports enthusiasts but also appeal to the families and children.
Activities planned include traditional African performances, a World Cup mascot parade, a football free styler, a World Cup posters' exhibition and a dedicated kids' corner, which will engage in flag face painting, a souvenir photograph with a renowned soccer player, a football paper mEoche and a flag mosaic.
Commenting on the summer promotion, Rima Chammas, Marketing Manager, Sahara Centre, said, "Reinforcing the uniqueness of Sahara Centre and its exceptional blend of variety, we are happy to extend a wholesome entertainment and winning opportunity to our customers this summer.
Sahara Goes Africa makes Sahara Centre the place to be this summer.
"To make the promotion even more interesting and exciting, most of the stores in Sahara Centre will be on sale during the promotion period.
A total of 52 winners will be announced as part of the daily Sahara cash raffle worth AED 1000 each.
The raffle draws will be held in the mall on June 29, July 11, July 25 and August 7, 2010.
Multiple cash raffle winners will be chosen on each of the draw dates.
The raffle for the Nissan Patrols will be held on July 11th and August 7, 2010 respectively.
2010 Al Bawaba (www.
2010 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)
Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company
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Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries
, has signed an agreement to acquire Faradion Limited, a leading sodium-ion battery technology company. The deal is worth GBP 100 million with RNESL investing GBP 25 million as growth capital in the company.
Based out of Sheffield and Oxford in the UK, Faradion provides access to high density, sustainable, and competitive cost battery technology. RNESL will use Faradion's state-of-the-art technology at its proposed fully integrated energy storage giga-factory as part of the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex project at Jamnagar.
The deal will further "strengthen and build upon our ambition to create one of the most advanced and integrated new energy ecosystems and put India at forefront of leading battery technologies," Mukesh Ambani
, Chairman of Reliance Industries said.
Conventional and widely used Lithium-ion batteries are currently at the forefront of the development of electric vehicles. However, they are unstable at high temperatures and expensive to manufacture. Sodium is a sustainable alternative to lithium. Sodium-ion batteries can offer some crucial advantages like affordability, sustainability, and safety. Plus, the energy density in sodium batteries is lower, which Faradion makes up for by offering high-energy-density batteries.
"Faradion's sodium battery provides a battery solution
that is safe, sustainable, and provides a high energy density and is significantly cost-competitive," RIL Chairman added.
Faradion's batteries have wide use applications from mobility to grid-scale storage and backup power. Its batteries utilise sodium that will secure India's energy storage requirements for renewable energy and the fast-growing electric vehicle market, he added.
"This deal with Reliance firmly establishes Faradion’s sodium-ion batteries as an integral part of the global value chain for cheaper, cleaner, more sustainable energy for decades to come," Dr Chris Wright, Chairman and Co-founder of Faradion said in a press release.
Lithium is a scarce metal, but sodium is 1,200 times more abundant. Rather Sodium is the seventh most abundant material on the planet. It is mined with soda ash and is easily available, including in seawater. This abundance also makes sodium cheaper than lithium at a time when the price of lithium is continuously rising.
The price of 99.5 percent lithium has reached over Rs 27 lakh per tonne, rising over 450 percent in the past year. The prices are expected to increase well into the end of the decade, experts said. Plus, as the demand for lithium rises, electric vehicles
could become more expensive, slowing down the adoption of electric vehicles.


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By Joshua Burd
A wellness products chain is expanding to Monmouth County, as a franchisee works alongside R.J. Brunelli & Co. to find other locations in central New Jersey.
The operator, Synergy Capital Partners LLC, has leased 1,500 square feet at 1121 Route 34 in Aberdeen, where it will open a new My CBD Organics store in the third quarter, according to the R.J. Brunelli brokerage team. It’s now eyeing additional sites in Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean counties for the seller of cannabidiol products, better known as CBD, as part of a growing industry in the retail sector.
Freehold-based Synergy Capital has tapped R.J. Brunelli as its leasing representative for its franchise territory in Central Jersey.
“My CBD Organics locations offer a wide selection of premium wellness and beauty products in an inviting, spa-like store environment,” said Synergy Capital President Brian Judy, who co-owns the business with his partner, Desiree Uebele. “Warm, earthy colors, soft seating, soft music and understated spa scenting combine to create a relaxing ambience. Those features are enhanced by the presence of knowledgeable customer care representatives who are trained to educate our guests on all the great benefits CBD has to offer.”
R.J. Brunelli said its client, a military veteran-owned business, hopes to eventually open five to 10 locations in the region and is seeking stores of 1,300 to 1,800 square feet in high-traffic highway strip centers, neighborhood shopping centers and central business districts. Its first shop will occupy the former Math Monkey space at Aberdeen’s Colonial Plaza, a 178,000-square-foot center at the intersection of Route 34 and Lloyd Road.
The chain will join tenants such as Stop & Shop, Bed Bath & Beyond, Famous Footwear, Hand & Stone, Smoothie King and DeMarco’s Catering & Gourmet Deli. R.J. Brunelli also serves as the leasing agent for the property, which is owned by Garden Commercial.
“CBD has become the norm for many to help with chronic pain, anxiety, sleeping issues and other maladies,” said Danielle Brunelli, president and principal with the Old Bridge-based firm. “People feel better about taking CBD than pain killers and other prescribed medications that can create addiction and other issues.”
The Monmouth County store will become My CBD Organics’ second in New Jersey, joining an initial location that opened in October 2019 in downtown Denville. The chain currently has seven total locations in operation in its home state of Georgia, North Carolina and New Jersey, with the Denville franchise operated by one of the chain’s co-founders.
Its product lineup includes CBD oils, lotions, gummies, organic teas and pet products.
“The rapid growth of the CBD industry has saturated the market with cheap, low-quality product sourced overseas or from biomass facilities,” Uebele said. “In contrast, all items sold at My CBD Organics shops undergo third-party testing, ensuring consumers that they are getting the highest quality, organic products.”


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Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that the city will extend the ongoing Open Restaurants program — which allows restaurants and bars to expand seating onto sidewalks, curbsides, and parking spaces — till October 31 this year.
De Blasio also announced the addition of 26 new streets to the Open Streets program, where entire streets are closed off to traffic over weekends to allow more room for outdoor dining.
Nearly 9,000 restaurants have already been certified to offer outdoor dining, and announcement of the extension should come as a boost to the city’s restaurants and bars, which are facing uncertainty on when it might be safe to return to indoor dining. The mayor reiterated Friday that indoor dining would not resume in the fourth phase of reopening, which is set to get underway Monday, July 20.
“The open restaurants program has worked,” de Blasio said at the press conference on Friday. “It has brought back jobs, and it has been safe.”
The mayor’s comments, though, don’t necessarily line up with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s, who yesterday introduced a three strike rule for restaurants and bars not enforcing social distancing. Cuomo said state officials had investigated 5,000 restaurants and bars — mostly downstate and in NYC — and found a “widespread lack of compliance,” in regards to social distancing. Still, de Blasio insisted at the press conference Friday that most restaurants and bars in the city were in compliance.
NYC is still faring much better in managing the coronavirus crisis than many other parts of the country, and new cases remained at two percent on Friday, according to the mayor. The steady health data is part of what’s buoyed de Blasio to continue expanding the city’s outdoor dining efforts.
The 26 new streets announced Friday — which are largely located in Manhattan, but include parts of Brooklyn and Queens too — join the 21 streets that were already announced for weekend closures, which take place Fridays from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 11 p.m.
The full list of locations is below:


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For all the discussion of brands heading into Web3, much of the design world of late seems to have stepped into a time machine and headed backward. Think Nosta Beauty's makeup palettes packaged in CD cases, sunscreen brand Vacation's eighties-inspired packaging or Disco Country Club's Bauhaus-font emblazoned pickleball rackets.
In a digital world seemingly dominated by fast-paced micro trends, this aesthetic has had enough staying power that it's even started to impact product design and tech platforms. Playdate, a handheld video-game console by software developer Panic, features black-and-white graphics and an analog crank control. Users of the metaverse community platform Gather interact as 8-bit avatars. Gaming studio Lexaloffle has created PICO-8, a ‘fantasy console’ where developers can create games and share them on virtual ‘cartridges’, mimicking old-school games while utilizing new technology. But does the past have enough pull for brands to continue using it into the future?
Looking back – and buying
We all reminisce. One survey indicated that 90% of people in the UK spend ‘at least some time fondly thinking about the way things used to be’ – and those warm and fuzzy feelings can impact our purchasing decisions. Almost half of those surveyed said they enjoy advertising that evokes the past, and one in five of those who enjoy those nostalgic ads say it also influences what they buy. Another study showed that those experiencing nostalgia are more willing to pay for something they desire.
The idea is that nostalgia connects people to simpler times – and this can be true even for eras that they didn't experience. Many millennial and Gen Z-focused brands will reference the seventies and eighties in order to evoke ‘vicarious nostalgia’ or to encourage a romanticization of a time in the past that didn't carry the weight of instantaneous communication, when the digital world was in its early days, according to design platform 99designs.
Nostalgia is essentially an emotional play, which is why it really exploded over the past two years, says Beth Butler, design lead at PR agency Hatch. ‘During the pandemic, the nostalgic marketing trend really took off, filling people with the joy that they were truly missing, while triggering an emotional reaction and a talking point,’ she says.
As certain product categories evolve into new realms, such as the rise of adaptogens (natural substances, such as herbs or mushrooms, that can help the body manage stress) in food and beverage, nostalgic branding can also create a familiarity with otherwise unfamiliar ingredients, says Alisa Pospekhova, founder of health lozenge brand Kindroot. ‘The mission of the brand is accessibility so, rather than being very cool and trendy, I chose to lean into a design that felt inclusive,’ she says.
That said, it's easy to veer into gimmick and, for small brands that are trying to create an identity, creating something that'll last is essential. ‘If your nostalgic branding strategy involves reusing old logos, graphics or color palettes, it should feel like a callback to an earlier era, not a rehash,’ writes Lindsay Kramer at 99designs.
There are a few quirks to this method – be sure to stick to one era and get your references right – but, otherwise, best branding practices still apply: be sure you have a strong story and a clear strategy. Both Beth and Alisa believe that customers will still be drawn to nostalgia but, for small businesses, the key is being thoughtful about how you incorporate it into design. Alisa, for example, blended retro-style illustrations with a modern font to give Kindroot's aesthetics a lasting look.
‘With smaller budgets in mind, this could be a conscious but effective way to leverage engagement,’ says Beth. ‘It's important to remember that historical trends should be specific to your industry and leveraged across multiple digital and traditional platforms to create a well-executed campaign.’


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Held USA will be launching the all new 2015 collection at AIMExpo, held October 16-19 in Orlando. Attendees will be able to see the complete lineup of Held motorcycle apparel, gloves and luggage.
Held USA will be set up at AIMExpo booth #921. Held representatives from the USA and Germany will be present to answer questions about Held’s premium motorcycle gloves, pants, jackets, protection, and bags and luggage, while also offering fittings. Made from the finest and some of the most unique materials available, Held products are built to accommodate a wide range of motorcyclists. Learn more about Held gloves, apparel and bags at HeldUSA.com.
Held representatives from the U.S. and Germany will be on hand to answer questions and assist in glove and apparel fittings.
More on AIMExpo 2014:
Open to the General Public October 18-19, AIMExpo is America’s first combined trade, media and consumer powersports event. Located at the Orange County Convention Center in destination city Orlando, attendees cn see the latest and greatest from more than 450 exhibitors and manufacturers.
Learn more at www.AIMExpoUSA.com
For more information about Held USA, visit HeldUSA.com.


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Omega Breaks owner JG Travel Group (JGTG) says it is more accessible to travel agents than ever despite group head of trade sales Dino Toouli leaving the business.
His departure is understood to be a mutual decision based on the company’s decision to drop its chartered air holidays product, which flew from regional airports and was one of its biggest sellers among third parties.
JGTG acquired Omega Holiday Group, where Toouli was head of trade sales, in September 2017 and he was appointed group head of trade sales in November – overseeing both Omega Breaks and Just Go! Holidays.
The company has confirmed that Toouli has departed the business in the last month.
Sales and marketing director Matthew Eastlake said: “When we moved the two businesses together, we changed our product mix having reviewed all the products across the four brands.”
Alongside its Just Go! Holidays and Omega Breaks brands, JGTG operates direct-sell brands Cruise Connections and Albion Journeys.
Around 10% of Omega Breaks sales are made through the trade and its autumn and winter holidays are on sale now.
Eastlake stressed that both Omega Breaks and Just Go! Holidays will continue to be sold through the trade, adding: “If anything, we are more accessible [to agents] than we ever have been.
“There is no question it’s a channel that is very important to us. There is growth, but the charters were a big part of that that side of the business so a chunk has been taken out of that.”


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You know, it’s crazy that Jaguar is even still considered a British car company! Despite its UK HQ, Jaguar was acquired by Ford, an American company, before some of us were even born, in 1990, Tata, an Indian company, has owned Jaguar since 2008, and its controlling Board is Indian. If it’s still considered a British car company despite this, the notion that its building factories and R&D centers outside the UK will hurt the brand, you rightly suggest, is baloney.
Sometimes in the risk management process it’s best to accept the likelihood and impact of the risk and identify new opportunities to mitigate losses. I think this is one such case. I’d like to better understand where Jaguar’s growth and profit have been coming since 2008. Jaguar notably never turned a profit when owned by Ford. I suspect growth has been fueled by Asia’s rise. And while the West is increasingly ambivalent about vehicle ownership, the car continues to be an aspirational tool for many in Asia, especially in India. Long term automobile growth and profits will anyway be seen in Asia. I wonder if Jaguar should see this as a politically expedient opportunity to publicly shift operating focus to the East.
Curtis, this is SO interesting!
Rocket technology has to be one of the most expensive, slowest to develop, highest risk, and guarded technologies out there, and of course I can’t imagine there are many companies out there developing new engines! Given how state-run the space industry was and how mistrusting the United States is becoming of Russia, would you know if there are other aspects threatened by global isolationism? Given the high cost of products and few number of players, how has isolationism impacted pricing for these parts in the space industry? Would love to learn more.
You do a great job connecting the larger problems that climate change will bring to the coffee industry: incentivized, continued deforestation; the degradation of farmers’ livelihoods as coffee-arable locations shift. I find myself reflecting on whether the rush to continue coffee production will really result in deforestation. After all, the coffee bean / tree demands shade – in fact, rain forest filled with biodiversity. Nevertheless, you make the case strongly and convincingly that the risk of disrupted coffee production on account of climate change will have much greater ramifications than just on our palettes or wallets.
Reading the article, I remain unconvinced that coffee bean yield will halve. As climate changes, coffee bean production will shift to new lands – and slowly. This will be expensive for existing companies, as they will need to secure new assets. But the shift will replace, not reduce, the lands with new lands on which coffee is produced. Illy is mitigating immediate climate change risk admirably: working with suppliers and working to engineer new strains of coffee beans. For long-term, moonshot type stuff, I wonder what role they see for vertical farming or lab engineering to meet increasing demand of the coffee bean.
Fascinating take on an extremely relevant topic that I think all of us, myself included, need to educate ourselves on. Blockchain is a buzzword around here today, and businesses remain unclear on what role it will play in their strategies and operations. However, I have read that the transportation and logistics industry is one expected to benefit most from the technology.  I think you accurately point out the potential benefits: decentralized management of contracts (reduced costs for all players), accelerated and simplified contract exchanges (increased productivity for all players), reduced regulatory cost. I suspect blockchain transparency would benefit companies as well by helping resolve legal disputes. Anonymization and standardization, emblematic of blockchain technology, protect company trade secrets and create enforceable arbitration rules. While I agree that Maersk may not be approaching the technology in the most thoughtful way, I am impressed that in a slow-evolving industry they do recognize the potential benefits and have begun to experiment. I’ll be really curious to see how the blockchain develops over our time at HBS.
D makes a convincing argument that blockchain technology can address a real problem in the wine collecting industry. D also raises a good and fair question: will the new technology be adopted by a conservative industry?
The wine auction industry is, relatively speaking, small. We learned in Chateau Margaux that the wine industry is a $100 billion one. The wine auction industry, on the other hand, is a comparatively smaller one at just over $300 million a year.  Given its insular, small reach, adoption of blockchain technology has the potential to be rapid. However, given the lack of general penetration for blockchain technology today, I suspect that it will take some time. One reason may be the price fluctuations one can expect with the adoption of the technology. Today, vintage wines can expect to sell for more the more they age. Verified wines, D notes, will sell for more than unverified wines. Which is to say, blockchain technology may disrupt the pricing model for the entire industry. I suspect the wine collectors who own old vintages and acquire blockchain-verifiable new vintages will hold off until this potential volatility is better understood.
Mr Chen accurately points out the supply-side manufacturing hurdles Tesla must overcome to meet demand for its vehicles. Given supply constraints for cobalt, its inexperience with the politics involved in procuring commodities on so massive a scale, and price fluctuations for lithium, Tesla will struggle to meet demand for Model 3 vehicles. It is worth noting as well that Tesla has delivered at most 47,000 vehicles in any year (this year), and it would struggle to meet production demand (roughly 500,000 Model 3s) even without supply constraints.
I commend Mr Chen’s higher level argument that Tesla’s cobalt and lithium supplies are not only procurement problems but also a potential, brewing and stewing PR problem: petrol car engines take less CO2 to produce than do batteries and their motors , cobalt is procured in a contested area of the world and is destructive to procure, and the commitment to the Gigafactory may reduce impact but marries Tesla to li-ion technology that consumes cobalt. I have not read this insight, and it is interesting.
What Mr Chen seems to miss is the extent to which there are electric vehicle manufacturers already in play around the world. Some of these OEMs are far more successful than Tesla, or have been operating longer. Here are some: REVA (India), BYD (China), SAIC (China), BAIC (China, soon US), FAW Group (China), ProTerra (USA). Others that are coming: Lucid Motors, Faraday, etc. For these OEMs to succeed, and for new ones to enter, two critical things must happen: (1) battery prices must drop, and (2) efficient charging infrastructure must be set up.


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Vote casting Now Launch for the Roblox Innovation Awards
Day by day, tens of millions of talented creators across the Roblox neighborhood are pushing the boundaries of what’s seemingly on our platform. They’re building new experiences, experimenting with reducing-edge applied sciences, and dreaming up strategies to connect of us from everywhere in the save the sphere. And as their ingenuity and creativeness has grown, so too has the prefer to expand our annual awards display to celebrate and discover their amazing achievements in innovation. And that’s why we’re furious for the evolution of the Bloxys to a new in-person abilities known as the Roblox Innovation Awards.
This is also our first-ever in-person awards display, shared in terms of from the invite-handiest Roblox Builders Convention (RDC) on September 10. We’ll additionally be that contains imprint-new award categories such as Most efficient Inventive Direction, Most efficient Utilize of Avatar Sort, and Most efficient Audio Win.
As well to honoring some of essentially the most ingenious creators on Roblox, we’re additionally giving all people within the neighborhood an opportunity to make a dedication who’ll carry dwelling the awards for premier categories collectively with Most efficient Snort Change, Video Star of the Year, and extra.
Soar into the Roblox Innovation Awards Vote casting Hub now to solid your votes to your favourite nominees. Vote casting ends at nighttime time on July 27.
Builders and creators will prefer to register in dispute to support RDC and the Roblox Innovation Awards. Registration will initiating up in a couple of weeks to invited company. Whereas you may perhaps perhaps perhaps additionally very well be drawn to staying updated on RDC data, join right here to receive future data and bulletins through electronic mail.
We’re furious to celebrate the sexy skill and unstoppable creativity of our neighborhood. Ultimate luck to all of the nominees!
The put up Vote casting Now Launch for the Roblox Innovation Awards seemed first on Roblox Blog.


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Mobile games developer and publisher Tapinator, Inc. (OTCQB: TAPM) is taking the mobile gaming market by storm with its unique business model. The company’s founder and CEO Ilya Nikolayev, recently featured in an Entrepreneur.com article (http://dtn.fm/qSV45), said the three keys to the company’s success are being quantitative before creative, developing quickly and creating an ecosystem of apps. An article discussing this reads: “The second key, he said, is to develop games quickly, then keep improving them, modeled after the Japanese business philosophy of Kaizen. TAPM has adopted a two-tier development approach: Full-Featured Games and Rapid-Launch Games. In the first, the company builds unique, high quality content targeting deep player engagement and long-term franchise creation. The company’s Rapid-Launch Games, by contrast, offer quickly consumable, entertaining content that is often based on popular culture trends.”
To view the full article, visit http://dtn.fm/s7mWj
Let us hear your thoughts: Tapinator, Inc. Message Board
Tapinator develops and publishes mobile games on the iOS, Google Play, and Amazon platforms. Tapinator’s portfolio includes over 300 mobile gaming titles that, collectively, have achieved over 400 million player downloads, including games such as ROCKY™, Video Poker Classic, Solitaire Dash, and Dice Mage. Tapinator generates revenues through the sale of branded advertisements and via consumer app store transactions. Founded in 2013, Tapinator is headquartered in New York, with product development teams located in the United States, Germany, Pakistan, Indonesia, Russia and Canada. Consumers can find high-quality mobile entertainment wherever they see the ‘T’ character logo, or at http://www.Tapinator.com
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